OUR PROUD HERITAGE

History of the Cav Patch

The 1st Cavalry Division patch, like the Division, has a proud and noble heritage. Its colorful design reflects the heritage of the United States Cavalry in a timeless manner.

    In September 1921 the War Department authorized the establishment of the 1st Cavalry Division. A directive was published requesting submission of a design for the "shoulder sleeve" of the new unit's uniform. Insignia design had to satisfy three principles: that it bind men together in a common devotion, be an easily recognizable sign by which men could reassemble after battle, and be a word picture which would inspire the men of the division. Additionally, postwar conditions limited the use of colors to two for economical production.

The design selected for the first patch was submitted by Colonel and Mrs. Ben Dorcy. The Colonel was then the commander of the 7th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss, Texas, with the newly activated division.   Mrs. Dorcy related that the combination of the golden sunset at Fort Bliss and the traditional Cavalry colors of blue and gold, were a great influence in selection of the background color of the insignia.   The bright yellow inner liner of one of the Colonel's old dress capes became the cloth on which the first design was drawn. The choice of the horse's head for the design was made by the Dorcys after they observed a mounted trooper ride by their home on a beautiful blue-black thoroughbred.  The design formerly was described as "the shape of the patch represents the shield carried by knights in battle. The bar, or slash, across the yellow shield also finds its origin in heraldry and is always shown on a coat of arms diagonally from left to right. It represents a scaling ladder used by the knights of old to breach castle walls. The ladder and horse occupy equal places of honor since both were necessary to meet with the enemy."

The shoulder patch of the 1st Cavalry Division is the largest of all U.S. Army division insignias. Mrs. Dorcy explained: "the patch had to be large enough to be seen through the dust and sand at Fort Bliss, and because it would be worn by big men who do big things."

During the Vietnam engagements, the yellow background of the patch for Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) was changed to a subdued Olive Drab (OD) green in order to minimize targeting of personnel.  The yellow/black patch is retained for Class "A" uniform dress.  Otherwise the patch has not changed from the original design and shape.

Current era description of the patch: "a sunset- yellow triangular Norman Shield with rounded corners 5 1/4 inches in height, a black diagonal stripe extends over the shield from upper left to the lower right.  In the upper right, a black horse's head cut off diagonally at the neck, appears within 1/8 inches of an Army Green border.  The traditional Cavalry color of yellow and the horse's head is symbolic of the original organizational structure of the Cavalry.   The color black is symbolic of iron, alluding to the organizational transition from mounted horses to tanks and heavy armor.  The black stripe, in heraldry termed a "Sable Bend", represents a "baldric" (a standard Army issue belt worn over the right shoulder to the opposite hip - sometimes referred to as a "Sam Browne belt") which retains either a scabbard which sheaths the trooper's saber or revolver holster.